From Hall H to Jupiter: 'Europa Report'

Film about space exploration puts the 'science' in science fiction

Jupiter's moon Europa (seen in an artist's rendering) and Saturn's moon Titan have both been targets in the search for alien life. Now NASA has chosen Europa as the destination of an unmanned probe. (NASA images)

Jupiter's moon Europa (seen in an artist's rendering) and Saturn's moon Titan have both been targets in the search for alien life. Now NASA has chosen Europa as the destination of an unmanned probe. (NASA images)

"Europa Report," a small movie about astronauts on a privately funded mission to Jupiter, kicked off Comic-Con's first Hall H panel of the weekend. (The convention's biggest hall actually opened with an hourlong animation showcase that played for a room that was half-full.)

The panel was by no means star-studded. Director Sebastián Cordero makes small movies like "Crónicas." Actors like Ben Browning and Karolina Wydra wouldn't get recognized on the street. The movie isn't even trying to generate a pre-release buzz; it's already available for download on iTunes.

But because two scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory sat on the panel along with the actors, the afternoon seemed more like a TED discussion than geeky Con panel.

"You guys know I'm pretty picky about my science-fiction movies," said moderator Phil Plait, who is also an astronomer and writer for Slate. "I wouldn't be up here if I didn't like it."

The panel featured clips of the faux-documentary, which had neither explosions nor chases. There was also scientific NASA footage showing its actual research of the area. Actor Browning said they even screened the movie for the scientists who control the Mars Rover and it passed muster.

Steve Vance and Kevin Hand of JPL, sitting next to the movie stars, discussed the possibility of life on Europa, one of Jupiter's moons that contains water.

"Europa is the first object in the solar system, besides Earth, where we found there was liquid water," said Vance. "Maybe even a global ocean."

He also said that NASA has come up with a design to begin exploring the icy surface called the Europa Clipper.

"Within the next few decades, we are going to have the chance to answer that primordial question of, 'Are we alone,'" said Hand. "It really is a profound time to be alive."